The Heart of Our Pedagogical and Entrepreneurial Approach

Our educational concept lies at the heart of our social, pedagogical, didactical and entrepreneurial approach. But every concept is only as good as its implementation in everyday school life – that is why we make it our highest priority to live by it on a daily basis.

Our students and their learning needs are at the heart of our efforts. This is put into practice by taking into account the following eight aspects:

English and German play equal roles in school communication – in the classroom and in all parts of day-to-day school life. As a result, children learn to express themselves naturally and confidently in both languages. Language is acquired through the immersion method, which invites children to dive headfirst into the new language. Students use the second language to engage with the world in a playful and completely natural way.

SIS faculty members are all native speakers of their language. They not only use their mother tongue for teaching in the classroom, but also in the school yard, at lunch, and during events and excursions.

At SIS Swiss International School, children can learn both German as well as the second language through immersion – even if they are not native speakers of either language.

The teaching philosophy at SIS Swiss International School is independent and guided by clear values. We strive to embody the values we seek to impart to our students: integrity, appreciation, responsibility and commitment. Our aim is to support students in establishing their own cultural, linguistic and social identity so that they may:

• develop into committed individuals who take ownership of their actions and decisions
• relate to other people, languages and cultures with openness and respect
• think and act as global citizens and members of their local community

These principles shape our learning environment and the way we work together as a school community.

For our students, school is a place to learn and thrive – an environment that is stable and nurturing while providing appropriate challenges. By learning and playing together, students develop the ability to share with others and build assertiveness.

Our day school offers a structured and challenging bilingual programme with a well-organised daily schedule, including lunch and varied extracurricular activities.

Throughout the academic year, events and activities bring together children from various classes and levels, creating a genuine sense of community.

SIS Swiss International School offers a single unified learning concept – from kindergarten, primary and secondary school through to college level. This continued educational pathway facilitates a seamless transition from one stage to the next. The offer of school levels may vary by location.

The varied, stimulating environment of SIS Swiss International School supports students in attaining academic excellence while allowing them to take enjoyment and pride in what they learn.

We pursue performance through a student-centred approach, recognising that excellence is achieved when each student is known, supported, challenged and inspired to grow.

Placing students at the centre of the educational experience allows us to respond to their strengths and needs and progress in a thoughtful and purposeful way.

Our intention is that SIS students graduate as global citizens with a strong sense of their origins.

For students at college level, we offer targeted preparation for the national high school diploma (Abitur). At the same time, they have the opportunity to complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), which culminates in a globally recognised university entrance qualification. We are pleased to welcome local children as well as the children of internationally mobile families.

At SIS Swiss International School, our students develop a global mindset through meaningful interaction with different cultures, perspectives and ways of thinking. Through this, they cultivate empathy, critical thinking and adaptability, broadening their understanding of both local and global contexts.

Our international student body combined with teachers hailing from diverse backgrounds result in a range of teaching and learning methods applied to the learning process.

Our students are encouraged to question, collaborate and act with a strong sense of global responsibility.

At SIS, technology is used in a targeted manner across all subjects, underpinned by a pedagogical concept for learning and teaching. From kindergarten onwards, students explore the areas of digital technology, programming and media as well as communication and e-safety. We use up-to-date, dedicated software to support the learning process of our students.

The bilingual SIS IT Curriculum is the foundation of digital learning in our kindergarten and primary school. Specific, levelled goals provide a pathway of progression for students. As they move up through the school, they are introduced to Microsoft Office 365 as a communication and learning platform allowing both in-class and online learning.

Various forms of technology can be found in all our classrooms and are used in an integrated way that enhances learning.

Our schools are part of the SIS German International Schools Group, which has been a pioneer in bilingual education since 1999. At present, about 5.000 students attend SIS schools at one of our 20 locations in Switzerland, Germany, Brazil and Italy. The SIS Swiss International School network ensures consistently high quality standards, as structures and processes at our facilities are evaluated, developed and enhanced on an ongoing basis.

Plus, our international organisation provides teachers and students with a platform to exchange experiences and insights across borders. Moreover, SIS colleges are accredited IB World Schools – making them members of a world-renowned international educational organisation.

SIS is a company of the Klett Group Germany.